Messages

16

Employment / Re: What (not?) to wear

« on: Jun 11, 2011, 02:39 am »

I've always been told I dress far too formally for interviews.  From now on, a nice shirt and a pair of nice slacks will be just fine for me.  Actually, I just interviewed with Cirque du Soleil via Skype and I think I was wearing a casual button up long sleeve shirt.

For first rehearsals I always dress up a little, for opening night I dress up a lot, but for everyday running of the show, I now wear black jeans and a black hoodie over whatever I'm wearing.  For rehearsals, it's jeans and a t-shirt.  I like to wear color when I can.

With that being said, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got, which was from a director friend of mine, is always dress to meet your audience.  The one time I had to walk out onstage and make an announcement to the audience I was so grateful I was dressed well.  Why I had to make that announcement is another story entirely.

17

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera Breakdown: The Ring

« on: Jun 09, 2011, 10:55 pm »

Did you just need the names of the four operas that make up the Ring Cycle, or did you need a scene breakdown, or a synopsis, or . . . ?

18

Employment / Re: Fired from an SM Job

« on: Jun 08, 2011, 03:05 am »

I have been dismissed under the context of it just not working out, that I didn't gel with the team.

I agree with what was previously said . . . it was humiliating, but time has given me a bit of perspective on the situation, and in the end I agree.  I didn't gel with that particular group of people.  I came to discover from the person who dismissed me that the qualities that I pride myself on, my ability to remain calm, my diplomacy, the very way I carry myself as a confident person was what wasn't fitting in.  If that's the case, I do probably need to move on to a position that values what I believe to be the core skill set of a successful stage manager. . . .and really, if the fact that my posture is too correct makes someone uncomfortable . . .they are crazy.

And, I'm not kidding, that really was part of the conversation . . .my posture was too correct.

Obviously, I'm in a much better place now.  I did take away some useful information, and I've applied that   . . . but I don't think it's helpful to try to be someone you are not for a gig.

19

Stage Management: Other / Re: Inexperienced conductor, last-minute score...

« on: Feb 20, 2011, 09:07 pm »

While, yes, this is a big concern, I would usually handle this the way I would a straight play.  In performance, if the actors get lost or jump a huge section, it is usually up to them to get back together and as stage manager i have to figure out if they missed any technical cues and whether or not to jump those cues or speed through them.  In this case, the conductor is part of the group of performers (as are all the pit musicians) and it is his/her concern to keep the music together.  I'm a big advocate of not stopping during a performance unless it is a safety issue.

I really couldn't disagree more.  We have to work together in order to keep the show going and the story being told.  To sit back and let the show train wreck is irresponsible.  On_Headset has got it right . . .talk it through, have a plan.  If worst came to worst and you have to stop . . .well, you've already stopped.  If you break the fourth wall, so be it.

20

The Green Room / Re: Mind Games

« on: Jan 11, 2010, 03:32 am »

Of course, I right "SR" and "SL" really big on the upper interior corners of my script binders, so I don't have to think!

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who does this.

21

Employment / Re: how long do you wait for a response?

« on: Nov 09, 2009, 02:47 am »

I'm going through this right now . . .I interviewed and was told it would be at least two weeks before I heard anything, that two weeks has come and gone and I have followed up with phone calls and have not received a response.  It's a shame . . .I really wanted that job . . .but you never know . . .23 months from now I might get the rejection letter or I might get called in for the next round of interviews tomorrow.  In the meantime, life goes on.

22

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Musical Director Issues - Multiple Problems

« on: Aug 04, 2009, 11:50 pm »

This gets me riled because of lack of teaching.  I once worked on an opera in an educational setting where one of our singers completely ruined his voice in the course of a single performance (much strain led up to that night).  He couldn't finish the performance and hopped on a plane later that week to his home country to figure out what to do with his life now that he couldn't sing again.

Similar to a TD spreading a box of nails on a dance floor and telling the dancers to have at it, it's an unsafe situation.  The voice is fragile and while some may argue that it's up to the singers to stand up for themselves, if they don't know any better yet, you should stand up for them.  Your name is on this production as well, and so, diplomatically, I would say something.  If direct communication doesn't solve it, get a producer or someone else involved. 

23

Uploaded Forms / Re: Weekly

« on: Jul 26, 2009, 03:29 pm »

While there is always a desire to know exactly what's going to be rehearsed weeks in advance (which sometimes you can predict that the chorus/dancers will be called on certain days/times due to AGMA regulations, as well as days off), what exactly is being rehearsed, in my experience, cannot be published more than a day in advance.  So although we may have weekly schedules that set aside blocks of time for rehearsal, what is actually being worked during those blocks of time I publish the day before after approval from the director, and it's recorded on a rehearsal hotline and/or I give calls to singers when they leave, or personally call them to let them know what the next day's schedule is . . and publish the next day's schedule and post it on the call board. 

24

Uploaded Forms / Re: Weekly

« on: Jul 25, 2009, 01:31 pm »

I have to go with Matthew on this one . . . I've been given a detailed schedule before by a director, but I never would publish something like that.  If the schedule changes, which it will, singers will default to the calendar they were originally given and work time will be lost.  If it's working for you, as always I think it's great, but I've never been able to give out a rehearsal schedule that was adhered to be the director more than a day in advance . . .and even at that it's a toss up.

25

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Conversations with actors

« on: Jul 24, 2009, 10:07 pm »

A great friend of mine once told me to never take anything said during tech personally . . .and that would be my advice to you now.  I have no idea why you were the unfortunate target of his venting, but dust your shoulders off and move forward.  At the end of the day we all have to act how we want to be remembered, and taking the high road in times like this will only be to your benefit.   

If it helps, I've had opera divas scream their heads off at me, and the greatest lesson I learned from that is how to take a good tantrum like that and brush it off (or figure out what the real problem is and help if you can).  It took a LONG time to get there, but it's a good skill to have.

26

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Schools (undergrad)

« on: Jul 22, 2009, 01:31 pm »

I agree with Kevin and Matthew regarding NCSA, and will also offer this . . .

I would not recommend Webster University, and I am an alum.  I have much concern and feel very strongly about this.  If you'd like further details please PM me.

27

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume Help?

« on: Jul 21, 2009, 12:01 am »

Hey, Diego . . .

I can't help you with the tech support on the resume browser, but if you'd like to post your resume to the resume workshop thread in the chats board it will be critiqued and you can read the critique in the chatlog that will be posted after the workshop, if you can't make it.  I strongly encourage you, and anyone with questions about resume formatting, to check out what's going on right now in that thread.  It's an invaluable experience to have your resume looked over by a group of your peers.

28

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Point Park: I guess putting it on SMNet makes it real...

« on: Jul 20, 2009, 01:47 am »

Congrats!

29

Employment / Re: your thoughts please (stood up for a craigslist gig)

« on: Jul 18, 2009, 06:24 pm »

I've definitely had this happen int he freelance world.  Unless you have a fully executed contract, the deal is not done.  And I ALWAYS make the producer sign the contract before they mail it to me. 

I would, however, definitely accept a gig over the phone although I had never met the person before.  I did it all the time.  Sometimes it's a great gig, sometimes not. 

30

Employment / Re: Lowering your expectations

« on: Jul 18, 2009, 06:18 pm »

A couple of things got me through this current stage  . . .

The first of which was comment that was made in Chat, which was to only apply for the gigs that I really WANTED, and something would come out of it . . .it did.

In the meantime, I did take a job that was frustrating, but It also gave me the opportunity to try new things, test myself in different ways, switch things up.  For instance, for the last opera I did there was no lighting designer.  In the absence of a contracted LD, I just did it (and it was a lot more complex than "here's the house rep plot, have fun" . . .), so I ended up calling cues for my own design and for the first time in eight years I called an opera from the house because I had to watch the light cues run.  One more thing for the resume.

I know plenty of people who revel in the opportunity to take charge at a smaller company.  Maybe it's more about changing expectations than lowering them?